Media advisory

10 February 2015

Notice of hearing for OPC substances reassessment

The EPA advises a hearing is scheduled for the modified reassessment of a bee control affecting five organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. In 2013 the EPA completed a reassessment of a number of OPCs and as a result controls over these substances were updated. The application for a further reassessment provides for consideration of controls to protect bees, and other insect pollinators, against adverse effects arising from post-application exposure to these substances.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday 17 February, at the Bay Plaza Hotel, 40 Oriental Parade, Wellington. It will commence at 9.45am and adjourn at approximately 5pm.

At the end of all presentations by the EPA and submitters the Committee will adjourn the hearing and make its decision. A final decision is usually made within 30 working days but may be longer if further information is sought by the Committee. The decision will be available on the EPA website at www.epa.govt.nz.

Read more about the OPC substances reassessment application and the hearing process followed

The EPA’s role is to oversee applications for hazardous substances under the HSNO Act. We put controls in place to manage the risks of hazardous substances to safeguard people and the environment.

ENDS

Background notes

The EPA has lodged an application for a reassessment of fifteen approvals for substances containing organophosphate or carbamate chemicals.

The application will determine appropriate periods of time that must elapse between the application of these insecticides onto a plant or tree, and when that plant or tree begins to flower and is likely to be visited by bees.

These proposals are intended to protect bees and other insect pollinators against adverse effects from post-application exposure to insecticides containing acephate, dimethoate, methamidophos, methomyl or oxamyl as active ingredients.

In 2013 the reassessment of organophosphate and carbamate plant protection substances was completed. The primary risk to bees was considered to be from direct contact during spraying, and non-contact periods were removed for insecticides containing specific active ingredients.

Concerns have since been raised by the National Beekeepers Association on the post-application effects of these insectivides which lead to grounds for reassessment being established. This included information from overseas regulatory activity on the post-application effects of a number of active ingredients that support the reinstatement of non- contact periods.

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